Barcelona testing report 2002-01-29

The Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and team mate Rubens Barrichello took over the top of the time sheets in Barcelona today. In warm, dry conditions seven teams with a total of sixteen drivers took to the track. Schumacher -- who put in the most laps of the day with 105 -- led with a 1.18.470, nearly two tenths of a second ahead of Barrichello. Both drivers were using the F2001 prior to Ferrari's launch on February 6th, working on Bridgestone tyre development and electronics systems.

Third was the Sauber C21 of Nick Heidfeld followed by the two Williams' of Antonio Pizzonia and Ralf Schumacher driving the new FW24. Sauber's Felipe Massa, also in a C21 was sixth, the team doing evaluation of Bridgestone tyres as well as aerodynamic assessment. Seventh was the Williams of Marc Gene -- both Williams' test drivers were in the old spec FW23 and the team were out in force with four cars on track.

Jarno Trulli ran the Renault B201, suffering sporadic electronic problems; team mate Jenson Button the new R202 while the BAR003 of Anthony Davidson completed the top ten. Jacques Villeneuve put in an appearance, setting the 11th fastest time in the BAR004: his manager and ex-BAR boss Craig Pollock was also present. The team were trying out development parts on the new car and Villeneuve had minor clutch problems.

The Toyotas of Mika Salo and Allan McNish, the Jordans of Takuma Sato and new try out Marcel Lassee -- a promising German Formula Renault winner -- and Juan Pablo Montoya in the other new Williams were all outside the top ten. Montoya was practicing pit stops and completed no flying laps.